WO2009090035A1

WO2009090035A1 - Improvements in or relating to portable wireless devices

Info

Publication number: WO2009090035A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/000147
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kevin R. Boyle
Original assignee: Epcos Ag
Priority date: 2008-01-14
Filing date: 2009-01-13
Publication date: 2009-07-23
Also published as: DE112009000053T5; JP5562253B2; US8330667B2; US20100289711A1; WO2009090035A9; JP2011512712A; KR101532281B1; KR20100102710A

Abstract

A method of offsetting a mismatch due user interaction when handling a portable wireless terminal in which antenna matching is changed from inductive matching to capacitive matching in response to a reactance change exceeding a threshold level and vice versa when an opposite change is detected. An antenna interface module (44) is coupled between a RF output or input stage (25 or 33) and an antenna (48 or 50). The antenna interface module includes first and second switches (SW1/1, SW1/2 or SW2/1, SW2/2), a first matching circuit including an inductive reactance (68 or 96) coupled between the power amplifier and the first switch and a second matching circuit including a capacitive reactance (68 or 92) is coupled between the RF output or input stage and the second switch (SW1/1 or SW2/1 ). A reactance threshold detector (54 or 56) determines if the reactance change traverses a predetermined threshold value and causes the first and second switches to be actuated so that the matching changes from inductive to capacitive or vice versa.

Description

DESCRIPTION

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PORTABLE WIRELESS DEVICES

The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to portable wireless devices. The present invention has particular, but not exclusive, application to matching of antenna structures used in mobile phones and other portable wireless devices.

A problem with operating hand portable wireless devices having small planar antennas, such as planar inverted-F antennas (PIFAs)₁ is that when a user holds a device, the antenna's impedance changes predominantly reactively. As a result the matching of the antenna to radio frequency circuitry is affected adversely by these reactive changes. EP 1 564 896 A1 discloses altering the value of an impedance connected between a power amplifier and an antenna to achieve power control in the output stage of a power amplifier. In operation the actual load impedance at the antenna is measured and the value of the impedance is adjusted so that only a purely resistive load is experienced by the power amplifier.

WO 2006/054246 discloses a controlled matching stage connected between the output of a power amplifier and an antenna stage. The controlled matching stage comprises a phase detector for detecting the phase difference between a first signal derived from the power amplifier and a second signal derived from an input to a switching stage coupled to the antenna stage. The difference in phase between the first and second signals is used to adjust the impedance of the switching stage. Typically the switching stage comprises a series LC circuit comprising a fixed inductance and an adjustable capacitance.

GB 0 804,103A discloses an automatic tuning system using servo motors driving respectively an adjustable antenna input coupling and a sliding short circuit. The resistance and reactance of a transmission line connecting a transmitter to an antenna are sensed and the results are used in driving servo amplifiers controlling the servo motors. Measures are disclosed enabling the servo motors initially to be driven rapidly and then to move more slowly.

GB 1 362 154 A discloses an automatic tuner for transforming the impedance of an antenna to a load resistance required for the power amplifier output stage of a transmitter. The automatic tuner uses a method of control of the tuning circuit element requiring phase and impedance inputs indicative of the reactive condition of the selected antenna. The phase input is used to control the switching of capacitors in an antenna impedance matching network and the impedance input is used to control the switching of impedances in the antenna impedance matching network.

WO 2006/038167 A1 discloses coupling a RF power amplifier to an antenna by way of a circuit for detecting the impedance of the antenna. The circuit detects a signal travelling from the RF power amplifier to the antenna and measures the peak current of the signal. More particularly the circuit comprises first means for sensing the peak value of the output voltage of the RF power amplifier, second means for sensing the peak of the output current of the RF power amplifier, and third means for deriving the phase between the output voltage and output current.

WO 2004/010595 A1 discloses a device for dynamic impedance matching between a power amplifier and an antenna. The device includes a circulator which routes a signal received from the power amplifier at a first port via a second port to the antenna. Additionally the circulator diverts a signal reflected at the antenna and received at the second port through a third port. A matching network is provided. In operation a directional coupler diverts a proportion of the signal travelling from the power amplifier to the antenna, from which the magnitude and phase of the signal may be derived, to a signal detector. The circulator routes the entire signal reflected at the antenna into the signal detector. The signal detector passes the magnitude and phase of both the signal travelling to the antenna and the signal reflected at the antenna to a conlroller, which evaluates the information received from the signal detector in order to determine the present impedance value of the antenna and to correct the controllable matching network containing active and passive components in accordance with the determined impedance value of the antenna.

An object of the present invention is to be able to provide an acceptable match of an RF stage to an antenna structure both in free space and when user interaction occurs.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a portable wireless terminal comprising an antenna interface module having a first port for connection to a RF output or input stage and a second port, a threshold detector including a reactance threshold detector coupled between the second port and an antenna terminal for connection to an antenna, the antenna interface module including first and second switches, a first matching circuit including an inductive reactance coupled between the first port and a first pole of the first switch, a second matching circuit including a capacitive reactance coupled between the first port and a first pole of the second switch, second poles of the first and second switches being coupled to the second port, the threshold detector providing an output for changing the state of the first switch from a first condition to a second condition and the state of the second switch from a second condition to a first condition, or vice versa, in response to the reactance threshold detector traversing a predetermined threshold value.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a portable wireless terminal comprising an antenna interface module having a first port for connection to a RF output or input stage and a second port, a threshold detector including a reactance threshold detector coupled between the second port and an antenna terminal for connection to an antenna, the antenna interface module including first and second switches, a first matching circuit including an inductive reactance coupled between the first port and a first pole of the first switch, a second matching circuit including a capacitive reactance coupled between the first port and a first pole of the second switch, and second poles of the first and second switches being coupled to the second port, the method comprising monitoring the reactance of the signal at the second port and, in response to the reactance threshold detector traversing a predetermined threshold value, changing the state of the first switch from a first condition to a second condition and the state of the second switch from a second condition to a first condition, or vice versa.

The present invention is based on the realisation that in free space a transmitter RF stage can be matched to an antenna using a series inductance but user interaction, that is, the wireless terminal being held by a user, causes an inductive shift that in many cases is counterproductive. In such cases matching can be achieved by capacitive matching. As the user interaction varies from person to person it is desirable that the change from inductive matching to capacitive matching and vice versa is effected dynamically. In implementing a portable wireless terminal made in accordance with the present invention the reactance of an antenna is monitored and if a reactance change is detected that traverses a threshold value in either direction, the reactance threshold detector causes the matching to switch from inductive to capacitive or vice versa.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a block schematic diagram of a portable wireless terminal made in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a partially block schematic and partially schematic circuit diagram of an RF stage and an antenna interface module as used in the portable wireless terminal shown in Figure 1 ,

Figure 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of a reactance threshold detector,

Figure 4 is a Smith chart showing contours of constant Ki with antenna impedance, ZA, Figure 5 is a Smith chart showing contours of constant K2 with antenna impedance, ZA, for X₅ = 1 , Figure 6 is a Smith chart showing contours of constant K₂ with antenna impedance, Z_A, for x_s = 0.5,

Figure 7 shows in diagram a) a Smith chart and in diagram b) a graph of Voltage Standing Wave Ratio as a function of frequency in MHz in the GSM850 TX band (824 - 849 MHz band), for Antenna Interface Module (AIM) impedances in free space and user interaction without adaptive switching,

Figure 8 shows in diagram a) a Smith chart and in diagram b) a graph of Voltage Standing Wave Ratio as a function of frequency in MHz in the GSM850 TX band, for Antenna Interface Module (AIM) impedances in free space and with user interaction,

Figure 9 shows in diagram a) a Smith chart and in diagram b) a graph of Voltage Standing Wave Ratio as a function of frequency in MHz in the GSM850 TX band, for AIM impedances in free space and with user interaction with adaptive switching, Figure 10 shows in diagram a) a Smith chart and in diagram b) a graph of Voltage Standing Wave Ratio as a function of frequency in MHz in the GSM 1800 TX band (1710 - 1785 MHz band), for AIM impedances in free space and with user interaction with adaptive switching,

Figure 11 shows in diagram a) a Smith chart and in diagram b) a graph of Voltage Standing Wave Ratio as a function of frequency in MHz in the GSM 1800 TX band, for AIM impedances in free space and with user interaction, and

Figure 12 shows in diagram a) a Smith chart and in diagram b) a graph of Voltage Standing Wave Ratio as a function of frequency in MHz in the GSM 1800 TX band, for AIM impedances in free space and with user interaction with adaptive switching.

In the drawings the same reference numerals have been used to indicate corresponding features.

For convenience of description the present invention will be described with reference to a portable wireless terminal capable of operating in accordance with various radio communication standards operable in a relatively low frequency band between 824 and 960 MHz and in a relatively high frequency band between 1710 and 2170 MHz.

Referring to Figure 1 the portable wireless terminal 10 comprises a radio transmitting and receiving stage 12 formed by an audio frequency (AF) stage 14 and a radio frequency (RF) stage 24. The AF stage has an input coupled to a microphone 16 and an output coupled to a loudspeaker 18. The AF stage 24 has terminals coupled to respective low and high frequency RF transceiver stages 20, 22 forming the RF stage 24.The transceiver stages 20, 22 have input/output ports coupled respectively to ports 26 to 32 and 34 to 42 of an antenna interface module (AIM) 44 to be described in greater detail with reference to Figure 2. The AIM 44 has a first low frequency band antenna coupling 46 connected to a low frequency band antenna 48 and a second high frequency band antenna coupling 50 connected to a high frequency band antenna 52. The antennas 48, 52 comprise any suitable antennas such as Planar Inverted-F Antennas (PIFAs).

The portable wireless terminal 10 further includes a microcontroller 55 for controlling the operation of the terminal 10 using control software stored in a Read Only Memory (ROM) 57. The microcontroller 55 is coupled to the radio transmitting and receiving stage 12 to configure that stage to operate in accordance with a desired radio standard. A Random Access Memory (RAM) 59 is coupled to the microcontroller 55 and serves to store data such as data messages. A man/machine interface represented by a keypad 61 is also coupled to the microcontroller 55. The basic operation of the portable wireless terminal 10 will be understood by persons skilled in the art without requiring additional explanation.

Referring to Figure 2, the low and high frequency RF stages 20, 22, respectively comprise a plurality of output/input stages 25 to 31 and 33 to 41 . The stages 25 to 31 respectively represent GSM850 TX 824-849/GSM900 TX 880-915; GSM900 RX 925-960; GSM850 RX 869-894/UTRA V RX 869-894 and UTRA V TX 824-849, and the stages 33 to 41 respectively represent GSM1800 TX 1710-1785/GSM 1900 TX 1850-1910; GSM1900 RX 1930- 1990/UTRA Il RX 1930-1990; UTRA Il TX 1850-1910; UTRA I RX 2110-2170 AND UTRA I TX 1920-1980. UTRA is the abbreviation used for UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access and has the following bands:

Band TX (MHz) RX (MHz)

I 1920-1980 2110-2170

Il 1850-1910 1930-1990

III 1710-1785 1805-1880

IV 1710-1755 2110-2155

V 824-849 869-894

Vl 830-840 875-885

VII 2500-2570 2620-2690

VIII 880-915 925-960

IX 1749.9-1784.9 1844.9-1879.9

The transmitter stages 25, 31 , 33, 37 and 41 will typically comprise power amplifier stages and the receiving stages 27, 29, 35 and 39 will typically comprise a low noise amplifier and RF filtering stages. The ports 26 to 32 and 34 to 42 of the AIM 44 are coupled respectively to the stages 25 to 31 and 33 to 41.

The AIM 44 comprises first and second banks 54, 56 of switches SW1/1 to SW1/4 and SW2/1 to SW2/4. The switches may comprise any suitable switching means such as pHEMTs (pseudomorphic High Electron Mobility Transistors), MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) devices or PIN diodes. Each of the switches SW1/1 to SW1/4 and SW2/1 to SW2/4 has first and second poles. The second poles of the bank 54 are coupled to a common junction or port 58 and the second poles of the bank 56 are coupled to a common junction or port 60. Each of the common junctions 58, 60 is coupled respectively to the low frequency band antenna 48 and the high frequency band antenna 50 by way of a respective series connection of a dc blocking capacitor 62A₁ 62B and an inductive reactance 64A, 64B of a threshold detector 66A₁ 66B. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the first and second banks 54, 56 are controlled by the microcontroller 55 (Figure 1 ) to select a particular one of the ports 26 to 42 to be connected to a respective antenna 48 or 52. Additionally for the ports 26, 34 having inductive/capacitive antenna matching the switches SW 1/1 and SW1/2 and the switches SW2/1 and SW2/2 are additionally controlled by dc control signals produced by the threshold detector 66A, 66B.

The port 26 is coupled to a junction 67. The first pole of the switch SW1/1 is coupled by way of an antenna matching capacitance 68 to the junction 67. An antenna matching inductance 72 on the one hand is coupled to the junction 67 and on the other hand is coupled by way of a dc blocking capacitor 70 to the first pole of the switch SW1/2. The port 28 is coupled by way of an antenna matching capacitance 74 to the first pole of the switch SW1/3. The ports 30 and 32 are coupled by respective inductances 76, 78 to respective bandpass filters 82, 84 of a duplexer filter 80. An output of the duplexer filter 80 is coupled by way of an antenna matching arrangement to the first pole of the switch SW1/4. The antenna matching arrangement comprises an inductance 86 and a capacitance 88 together with a shunt inductance 90 connected to ground.

The port 34 is coupled to a junction 91. The first pole of the switch SW2/1 is coupled by way of an antenna matching capacitance 92 to the junction 91. An antenna matching inductance 96 on the one hand is coupled to the junction 91 and on the other hand is coupled by way of a dc blocking capacitor 94 to the first pole of the switch SW2/2. The ports 36 and 38 are coupled to respective bandpass filters 100, 102 of a duplexer filter 98. An output of the duplexer filter 98 is coupled by way of an antenna matching capacitance 104 to the first pole of the switch SW2/3. The ports 40 and 42 are coupled to respective bandpass filters 108, 110 of a duplexer filter 106. An output of the duplexer filter 106 is coupled by way of an antenna matching capacitance 112 to the first pole of the switch SW2/4.

With respect to an understanding of the present invention it will be noted from the preceding description that GSM 850 TX 824-849 and GSM900 TX 880-915 share a power amplifier port in the stage 25. Hence, the operation of the switches SW1/1 and SW 1/2 can be chosen dynamically, in response to a dc control voltage of the reactance threshold detector 66A. The reactance threshold detector 66A is responsive to the change of reactance of the antenna when the wireless terminal is held by a user as opposed to being in free space, and vice versa. The same is true at the GSM1800 TX 1710-1785 and GSM 1900 TX 1850-1910 power amplifier port in the stage 33 (where switches SW2/1 and SW 2/2 can be dynamically set). The teachings of the present invention are not limited to the GSM transmit channels but can be applied to matching any or all of the other stages 27 to 31 and 35 to 41 to their respective antennas.

Figure 3 illustrates a reactance threshold detector 120 that can be used for determining whether the antenna reactance has exceeded a threshold. This can be achieved using a reactance threshold detector with an inductor or capacitor of a certain value.

The reactance threshold detector 120 comprises a reactance X_s which can be an inductor or capacitor. A signal from a RF front end is applied to a terminal 122 and a current /V flows to the antenna impedance Z* which is represented by a series arranged antenna resistance RA and reactance XA- The voltage V₁ at the antenna side of the reactance X₅ is supplied to one input of a first high impedance buffer amplifier 124. A voltage V₂ at the other side of the reactance X_s is applied to a second input of the amplifier 124 and to one input of a second high impedance buffer amplifier 126, a second input of which is connected to ground. The outputs of the amplifiers 124, 126 are limited in respective limiters 128, 130, the outputs from which are multiplied in a multiplier 132. A dc control voltage is available on a terminal 136 coupled to the output of the multiplier 132. A filter consisting of a large value shunt capacitor 134 is also coupled to the output of the multiplier 132. The operation of the phase detector will now be described.

The reactance, X_s is used as a sensing element, about which the two voltages, vi and V₂ are monitored. The first amplifier 124 processes the difference voltage dv =

while the second amplifier 126 operates on V₂ as drawn. This amplifier may also be configured to amplify V₁. The amplifiers also serve as high impedance buffers.

The voltages

and v₂ are functions of the antenna impedance, ZA = RA ⁺ JXA and are given by: v, = /,|Z_/<|cos(ω/+φ_I )

1 )

2) where the phases, φi and Φ₂ are related to the impedances by

φi is the phase of the antenna impedance. Φ2 will be used to for reactance measurement.

The difference voltage, dvis given by

5)

where the sign within the parentheses is positive for an inductor and negative for a capacitor.

Amplifying and limiting these voltages using the amplifiers 124, 126 and limiters 128, 130 removes amplitude information. If we then multiply the amplified and limited versions of Vi and dV we get

Λcos(ωf +φ, )cos(ωf ± 90) = Scos(2ωf + φ, ± 90) + COS^₁ T 90)

6 where A and B are constants of proportionality. Filtering this with a large valued shunt capacitor 134, as shown in Figure 3, leaves only the DC part, which can be written as follows

V₀₀ =TSsIn^₁)

7

Here the negative and positive signs apply to capacitive and inductive sensing respectively.

Similarly, we may choose to process 1/2 and dv, which yields \/_DC = +βsin(φ₂) δ)

The previous sub-sectbn shows that a given VOc corresponds to a particular phase. From equations (3) and (4), VQC also corresponds to a range of antenna resistance and reactance values that may be plotted as contours on a Smith Chart. The simplest way to do this is to first express resistances and reactances in terms of real and imaginary components of reflection coefficient: the x and y axes of the chart respectively.

As derived in Appendix A included at the end of the description, the normalised antenna resistance, ΓA and reactance, XA are related to the real and imaginary components of reflection coefficient by

where

P_AT real part of antenna reflection coefficient PAi imaginary part of antenna reflection coefficient If ι/i and dv are processed by the phase detector, from equation (3) the phase - and, therefore Voc - is constant when XA/ΓA is constant. Hence,

where, from equation (3), K^ is given by

12) Simplifying equation (11) gives

13) This can be rearranged to give

This is the equation of a circle in the (PA_Λ PA) plane, centred at (0. -K₁) and with a radius equal to -/l + K₁ ² . Since Ki = tan^'^φ,), this can also be written

_Pt +k, +COtMN ₁₅₎

Equation (14) can be used to draw contours of constant Ki on a Smith Chart that is used to represent all possible antenna impedances. From equations (7) and (12), when Ki = ∞, V_DC is zero and the contour is a line of zero reactance (a horizontal line through the centre of the chart). All other lines begin and end at the points representing short and open circuits, as shown in Figure 4. The contours of the previous sub-section show when the phase of the antenna impedance is constant. However contours of constant phase are sub- optimal in so far as the present invention is concerned. This is because the phase of an antenna runs approximately parallel to the contours of constant phase and only small voltage changes can be detected. The present invention is concerned with using contours of constant reactance and changes in impedance cross the contours of constant reactance substantially orthogonally.

Means by which a constant reactance can be measured will now be derived. For constant reactance, V2 and dv are processed by the reactance threshold detector. From equations (4) and (8) Voc is constant when {x_A+ xs) lr_A is constant. Hence, we have

*_Λ ^{+ x}s ₌ 2p^ _{[ χ} (1 - P^)² + pj, _ 1 r_A ^-Pi -Pl ^S 1 -PI - PX K₂ 16) where, from equation (4), K₂ is given by K₂=cot(φ₂)

17)

Simplifying equation (16) gives pL(i + K,x_s)-2K₂x_sp_Λ+pi(i+K₂x_s)+2K₂p_Λ. +K₂x_s -1 = 0

18)

Hence,

Substituti

and

inequation (19) gives

The terms on the right of this equation can be written

(K 2^AS )²+K₂ ²+(i-K₂x₅Xi + K₂x₅)_

(1 + K₂X₅)² 1 + K₂X₅ 23!

Hence, we get

Once again, this is the equation of a circle in the (p_Ar, PAΪ) plane. The circle is centred at (K₂X₅ /(1+K₂ X₅); -K₂ /(1 + K₂X₅)) and the radius is given by /I +K₂ /1 + K₂X₅. Again this can be used to draw contours of constant K₂. From equations (8) and (17) VD_C is zero for K2 = °°, when the centre coordinates and radius are as follows;

Hence, when VOc is zero, equation (24) simplifies to

This is directly equivalent to a line of constant normalised reactance, -Xs on a Smith Chart (see Appendix A). As such, this can be used to set a reactance detection threshold: a reactance below -x_s wiJJ give a negative VDC, whereas a reactance above -Xs will give a positive VOc-

Contours of constant Kz are plotted in Figure 5 for x_s = 1. C/earfy the contour for Kz = ∞ coincides with the XA = -1 constant reactance circle. Similarly, Figure 6 shows contours of constant K₂ for x_s = 0.5.

Figures 4 and 5 indicate that a reactance threshold can be chosen by choosing an appropriate inductor, X_s. If necessary the AIMs may include several different valued inductors Xs together with selection means for selecting an inductor to suit a particular application. The following description describes how a reactance threshold detection circuit can be used in an antenna interface module (AIM) having an architecture shown in Figure 2. In the Smith Charts shown in Figures 7(a) to 12(a), the line referenced 118 relates to the free space condition and the other lines relate to different user interactions. In Figures 7(b) to 12(b), the bold black line 120 relates to the free space condition and the other lines relate to conditions noted when different volunteers held the portable wireless device.

Figure 7 shows the low-band antenna impedance, line 120, in free space and in an experiment in which a portable wireless terminal made in accordance with the present invention was held by 63 volunteers for the GSM850 TX band.

Figure 8 shows the results in which in free space the GSM850 TX band is matched with the series inductor 72 (Figure 2). However, user interaction causes an inductive shift, such that for many of the users - 51 out of 63 - the inductance is counterproductive. Those user interactive results furthest clockwise from the free space condition line 118 indicate that inductance matching is ineffective and in fact many of the results are worse than without any matching. In such circumstances, it is better to switch in the capacitor 68 (Figure 2) that matches the GSM850 TX band (in free space).

The reactance at which this threshold is reached is used to determine the sensing inductance, Xs and is given by

29)

where

Xt reactance of matching inductance (positive)

Xc reactance of matching capacitance (negative) For the case above, the matching inductor 72 is 6.2nH (36.2Ω at 837MHz) and the capacitor 68 is 8pF (-23.8Ω at 837MHz). This gives a sensing inductor 68 value of 0.83nH (4.4 Ω at 837MHz). If necessary the value of the capacitance 62A may be varied to take into account changes in the series inductance of the inductor 64A.

Simulating with this value, and adjusting the dc blocking capacitor 70 to tune out the inductance, gives the results shown in Figure 9. Clearly the VSWR is significantly improved - 38 of the 63 results where the phone is held use capacitive rather than inductive matching.

Figure 10 shows the high-band antenna impedance in free space and when held by 63 volunteers for the GSM1800 TX band.

With inductive matching based on the free space impedance, the impedance at the input of the AIM becomes as shown in Figure 11. The matching inductor 96 is 3.6nH (39.5Ω at 1747MHz). while the capacitor 92 used to match the GSM1900 TX band is 11pF (-8.3Ω at 1747MHz). This gives a sensing inductor 64B value of 1.42nH (15.6 Ω at 1747MHz).

Simulating with this value, and adjusting the dc blocking capacitor 94 to tune out the inductance, gives the results shown in Figure 12. As for the low frequency band, the VSWR is significantly improved. 26 of the 63 results where the phone is held use capacitive rather than inductive matching. In both the low and high frequency bands a slightly larger valued sensing inductor would be more optimum, since the theory above does not take account of circuit losses, parasitics etc.

The reactance measurements can be applied to a receive channel but it is preferred for reactancemeasurements to be made on the transmit channels because power is supplied by a power amplifier.

Appendix A - The Smith Chart

A.1 - Impedance circles

A reflection coefficient, p can be directly plotted on to a Smith Chart, since the coordinate system used is Cartesian for the real and imaginary components of p. To plot lines of constant resistance and reactance, however, we must find a relationship with the components of p. Fortunately, this is straightforward to do.

The normalised impedance is related to reflection coefficient as follows:

where

Pr real part of reflection coefficient p,- imaginary part of reflection coefficient r normalised resistance determined by the ratio of antenna resistance RA divided by the input impedance, for example 50Ω x normalised reactance determined by the ratio of the antenna reactance RU divided by the input impedance, for example 50Ω. This can be simplified to give

. 1 - p² + p² + y2p² z= r +jx = l^{r H}' /'

(1- Pj + P,² A.2)

The real part gives the resistance

and the imaginary part gives the reactance x₌ 2P₁

(i- p_f )² + p² A.4)

(A.3) can be simplified to give

(i + r)p² +r(i-2r)+(i + r)p²=1

A.5) This can then be further simplified to give

This is the equation of a circle in the (p_r, p,) plane, centred at (r/(i + r), 0) and with a radius equal to 1/(1 + r). (A.4) can be simplified to give

This is also the equation of a circle in the (ρ_r, p;) plane, but centred at (1, 1/x) and with a radius equal to 1/x.

A.2 - Admittance circles

It can be shown in a similar fashion that lines of constant normalised conductance, g are given by

and the lines of constant normalised admittance, b are given by

In the present specification and claims the word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. Further, the word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed.

The use of any reference signs placed between parentheses in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

From reading the present disclosure, other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such modifications may involve other features which are already known in the design, manufacture and use of portable wireless terminals and component parts therefor and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein.

Claims

1. A portable wireless terminal comprising an antenna interface module (44) having a first port (26 or 34) for connection to a RF output or input stage (25 or 33) and a second port (66A or 66B), a threshold detector including a reactance threshold detector (120) coupled between the second port and an antenna terminal (46 or 50) for connection to an antenna (48 or 52), the antenna interface module including first and second switches (SW1/1 , SW1/2 or SW2/1, SW2/2), a first matching circuit including an inductive reactance (68 or 96) coupled between the first port (26 or 34) and a first pole of the first switch (SW1/2 or SW2/2), a second matching circuit including a capacitive reactance (68 or 92) coupled between the first port (26 or 34) and a first pole of the second switch (SW1/1 or SW2/1), second poles of the first and second switches being coupled to the second port (58 or 60), the reactance threshold detector providing an output for changing the state of the first switch from a first condition to a second condition and the state of the second switch from a second condition to a first condition, or vice versa, in response to the reactance threshold detector traversing a predetermined threshold value.

2. A portable wireless terminal as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the reactance threshold detector comprises a reactance element (64A or 64B) having a first terminal coupled to the antenna terminal (46 or 50) and a second terminal connected to the second port (58 or 60), and means for processing a voltage difference (dv) across the reactance element and a voltage tø) at its second terminal to determine the phase {φi) for reactance measurement.

3. A portable wireless terminal as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the reactance threshold detector (120) comprises a reactance element having a first terminal coupled to the antenna terminal and a second terminal coupled to the second port (58 or 60), a first amplifier (124) having inputs for receiving voltages {v_7tv₂) at the first and second terminals and for deriving the difference (dv) between these voltages, a second amplifier (126) having an input for receiving the voltage (v_∑) at the second terminal, means (128, 130) for removing amplitude information from the voltages at the outputs of the first and second amplifiers, multiplying means (132) for multiplying together the voltages from which the amplitude information has been removed to produce an output and means (134) for filtering the output of the multiplying means to produce a control voltage for operating the first and second switches.

4. A portable wireless terminal as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the threshold value is a function of the reactance (x_s) of the selected reactance element.

5. A portable wireless terminal as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that reactance element is an inductor.

6. A portable wireless terminal as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that in free space the inductive reactance is selected for matching and in that in response to user interaction causing a reactance change the capacitive reactance is selected for matching.

7. A method of operating a portable wireless terminal comprising an antenna interface module (44) having a first port (26 or 34) for connection to a RF output or input stage (25 or 33) and a second port (66A or 66B), a threshold detector including a reactance threshold detector (120) coupled between the second port and an antenna terminal (46 or 50) for connection to an antenna (48 or 52), the antenna interface module including first and second switches (SW1/1 , SW1/2 or SW2/1 , SW2/2), a first matching circuit including an inductive reactance (68 or 96) coupled between the first port (26 or 34) and a first pole of the first switch (SW1/2 or SW2/2), a second matching circuit including a capacitive reactance (68 or 92) coupled between the first port (26 or 34) and a first pole of the second switch (SW1/1 or SW2/1), and second poles of the first and second switches being coupled to the second port (58 or 60), the method comprising monitoring the reactance of the signal at the second port and, in response to the reactance threshold detector traversing a predetermined threshold value, changing the state of the first switch from a first condition to a second condition and the state of the second switch from a second condition to a first condition, or vice versa.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the reactance threshold detector comprises a reactance element (64A or 64B) having a first terminal coupled to the antenna terminal (46 or 50) and a second terminal connected to the second port (58 or 60), characterised in that the method comprises deriving a voltage difference (dv) across the reactance element and a voltage {yi) at the second terminal of the reactance element and processing the derived voltage difference and voltage to determine the phase (φ∑) for reactance measurement.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the reactance threshold detector (120) comprises a reactance element having a first terminal coupled to the antenna terminal and a second terminal coupled to the second port (58 or 60), characterised in that the method comprises deriving a voltage difference {dv) across the reactance element and a voltage {v∑) at the second terminal of the reactance element, amplifying and limiting the voltages derived, multiplying together the amplified and limited voltage voltages, and deriving a DC control voltage by filtering the multiplied signals.

10. A method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that in free space the inductive reactance is selected for matching and in that in response to user interaction causing a reactance shift the capacitive reactance is selected for matching.